Deck wash port...factory or not?

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,271]

Bought this 312 recently to clean up an sell. Came with something Ive never seen on a WH deck before. A wash out port. Is this factory or a previous owners custom add-on?

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Looks aftermarket to me. Looks like a cut off end of garden hose clamped onto there.

 

But I've been wrong before.

[AMC RULES 37,124]

Wondering how well it works?

[peter lena 8,564]

sparky, definitely NOT ORIGINAL  , that was an add on , agree with the garden hose idea, another thing about that is that it will INCREASE DECK ROT , keeping a high moisture level in a dark humid area. those decks  are literally a 5 min drop , do mine often to inspect and always get sun and air on the underside . just the opposite of the life it lives . the wet caked grass it will leave will not help your deck , jmoo , pete

[squonk 40,966]

That is a Toro/Wheel Horse add on lawn watering attachment. Turn on the blades and turn on the water. Drive around your yard for complete and even watering. DON'T RUN OVER THE HOSE! 

[cleat 5,771]

My old Ford LGT had a wash out.

 

Used it for one summer after each mowing.

 

Made a huge mess where I used it then I got to replace all the spindle bearings which were new just before that and greased properly.

 

Took it off and never used one again.

 

Just my $0.02

 

[AMC RULES 37,124]

 That's what I was thinking.

Great in theory, but the reality is not so much.

[lynnmor 7,294]

I run mine up a ramp and hose it out every time, never had rust.  I'm still running my second walk behind, 45 years and no rust.  The trick is to remove all clumps or just don't do it  I have a cheap Troy-Bilt at my rental property that has a washout port that is borderline useless, clumps always remain.

[clueless 2,974]

2 hours ago, lynnmor said:

I run mine up a ramp and hose it out every time, never had rust.  I'm still running my second walk behind, 45 years and no rust.  The trick is to remove all clumps or just don't do it  I have a cheap Troy-Bilt at my rental property that has a washout port that is borderline useless, clumps always remain.

Useless, couple of my neighbors have them on their box store riders and both use it. When they come over to use my jack to change blades, still plenty of clumps under the deck. I hand them my 3 inch rounded putty knife

[CCW 1,291]

My father had a mower with a factory installed hole in the top of the deck for washing after mowing.  Did not use it much and when it was used left a big mess on the driveway.

[stevasaurus 22,677]

I seem to remember a thread some years ago where somebody did this and asked what everyone thought.  Not factory, for sure.  

[Tractorhead 9,064]

Agree - no good solution.

 

Tried it on my 212 deck, because i firstly thought it seems to be a good idea. 😎

 

My own experiences:

To really clean out the Deck, you have to use a heavy Water presure ( i used 4Bar pressure) on the Water line

to use it for only a bit of effect and it depends it’s time to have the whole Deck clean.

 

A quick detach of the Deck and a pressurewash of the whole underside of the Deck

is much more effective and quicker to do and even much less Water consumption and fuel consumption after at all.

After i checkd the Water meter before and after, i found out the Pressurewash saves about 80 Litre of Water just for one Cleanout,

what must the other Way be dumped to clean out the Deck.

if it runs shorter there are lots of wet nests be kept under the Deck who helps to rotten fast.

 

I need at least in my Test 25 min of high pressure Water and 3/4 throttle on the Engine, until it was close to clean.🙄🤪

Instead Pressurewasher depends just 1/2 min for Cleaning and 5 min Detach/ Attach the Deck and you‘re done.👍

 

The dirt after was the same, but on the Pressurewasher- version the mess is more concentrated on a small spot

and after the cleanout, it’s much easier to remove.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,441]

Had one on a push mower once. Made a great mess but otherwise useless... used once... then cleaned correctly after that...

 

[Pullstart 62,675]

It is too factory Mike, just like those factory decals off a mailbox!

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,271]

39 minutes ago, pullstart said:

It is too factory Mike, just like those factory decals off a mailbox!

I knew it!!! I bet this is one ultra rare tractor/deck combo worth zillions 🤣 ! Might just retire on the sale of this one 

[AMC RULES 37,124]

Maybe...

if you list it on Ebay.

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by AMC RULES
More PC :)

[SylvanLakeWH 25,441]

2 hours ago, AMC RULES said:

Maybe...

if you list it on Ebay.

 

Don’t forget to add “NOS” before the item description... Adds at least two 0’s to any price...

 

[AMC RULES 37,124]

...and don't forget the "rare."

[JoeM 7,871]

Kind of work.....show this video once, interesting. 

 

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

There's a chance it's original..My 1999 wheel horse HXL with a 44" deck I believe has that on the right side of the deck...But the brass colored part looks like an add-on as the ends of the plastic connection tends to easily break off.

I'll try to get a pic next chance I get.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

I have seen several XI decks with this “feature”.

 

Here is my recently purchased XI deck that was in a 522xi I purchased a few months back. 

[71_Bronco 1,072]

My dad has a few oak trees in his yard. He says that at the end of the season, he runs his tractor around the base of the tree a few times. He claims that the nut shells chew off any built up grass on his deck.

 

Can't imagine that's good for the blades, but if you sharpen them at the start of the next season, I can't see a huge issue happening.

[johnnymag3 2,514]

Those silly wash ports do more damage than clean.....big waste of time....Pop off the deck, flip it over and do it the right way......your deck will thank you for it.

 

That's why WHEEL HORSE Is so great.........less than 5 minutes to remove / install the Deck !!!   NO TOOLS REQUIRED ~~~~~~~

 

 

Plus Horses love to have their belly rubbed !!!!!

Edited September 1, 2020 by johnnymag3

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

This is on my HXL deck...looks just like The one pictured on the 312...and like most it’s broken.

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,271]

2 hours ago, Terry M said:

This is on my HXL deck...looks just like The one pictured on the 312...and like most it’s broken.

 

I’m starting to think mine just might be a factory piece